KEF brings their MIE DSP to their Kube Subwoofers. Vudu is changing its name to Fandango At Home. Walmart is buying Vizio. UHP projector lamps can’t be restocked in the EU starting in 2026. And Tom finally watched Barbie!

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBeMkU

00:00:00 – Intro

00:04:07 – SoundPEATS Space Update

It’s been a couple weeks; how’s the battery life?

– https://avgadgets.com/charge-your-headphones-once-a-week-soundpeats-space-headphones-review/

00:06:57 – What We Watched

Rob watched Madame Web, and Titane. Tom finally watched Barbie! Was it everything he had anticipated?

00:35:58 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 131 Patreon Patrons, including Bertrand, as well as all the people who alerted us about last week’s audio-only version cutting out early: Vince, Jonathan, Mark, Herb, Martin, Theo, Valdeze, Ilango, and anyone we might have missed!

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Infinite Gary, Bobby, Bertrand, Vince, Mark, Bob, and Nathan. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:40:13 – News: KEF MIE Subwoofers

KEF has a new dual 9-inch KC92 model, and they’ve brought their Music Integrity Engine to their Kube Series: http://tinyurl.com/hmrnzxb4

00:45:05 – News: Vudu Renamed to Fandango At Home

Supposedly a change in name only. Your digital library remains intact: http://tinyurl.com/5ajzu8ce

00:46:40 – News: Walmart Buying Vizio

A rumor when we recorded, and confirmed the next day: http://tinyurl.com/2r6kzpdv

00:48:44 – News: UHP Lamps Finished in 2026

An amendment to an EU regulation means UHP projector lamps cannot be restocked starting in 2026: http://tinyurl.com/3s72u2ee

Comments:

00:50:19 – Comment: Jack – Super Bowl Streaming Lag

Various services were measured and ranked by a streaming technology company: http://tinyurl.com/yckt4b3y

00:52:44 – Comment: Nathan – Cheaper Dolby Vision Hack

If you can manually force your projector into HDR mode, you can use a $30 EDID device instead of an HDFury: https://hometheater.substack.com/p/dolby-vision-on-projectors-lldv

00:56:00 – CORRECTION: Marantz Cinema 30 NOT Identical to Denon X6800H

A YouTube comment took us to task. They are objectively different inside.

QUESTIONS:

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900th Episode! Could these be the final 100 episodes of AV Rant? We have thoughts about Apple Vision Pro. Marantz Cinema 30 top end Receiver. Amazon Prime Video makes Dolby Vision & Atmos cost extra. Plex movie rentals are 1080p only. Fox Sports, ESPN & Warner are making a combined streaming sports service. Sony is killing Funimation.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBe2wS

00:00:00 – Intro

Are these our final 100 AV Rant episodes?

00:15:21 – Apple Vision Pro Thoughts

Rob’s basically the last 3D fan on Earth, and even he thinks the hype is silly.

00:20:16 – What We Watched

Rob watched The Whale, and started Evil S.3. Tom started watching Obliterated on Netflix.

00:38:41 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Raf and Tyler for their PayPal donations, plus our 130 Patreon Patrons, including Daniel, as well as Ash for providing our Episode #900 artwork, Terry for talking us up to SVS and sending Tom a movie code, and Aaron for sending even more movie codes to Rob.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Terry, Daniel, Ryan, Raf, and Aaron. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:41:11 – News: Marantz Cinema 30 Receiver

It’s a Denon X6800H that looks a little different and costs $1,000 more: http://tinyurl.com/33htus8s

00:44:44 – News: Prime Video Charges Extra for Atmos

You can only get Dolby Vision & Atmos if you pay the extra $3/month to go ad-free: http://tinyurl.com/4hxfbtyn

00:49:37 – News: Plex Movie Rentals are 1080p Only

Plex opened their online Movie Store. Rentals only, no TV shows yet, and 1080p with 5.1 audio max…at least for now: http://tinyurl.com/nhb4uuty

00:51:41 – News: Combined Sports Streaming Service

Fox Sports, ESPN & Warner Bros Discovery are teaming up: http://tinyurl.com/ymy9azx8

00:56:58 – News: Sony Kills Funimation Collections

Crunchyroll is taking over, and Funimation Digital Copies will disappear. No refunds: http://tinyurl.com/3uputmjj

Comments:

01:01:25 – Comment: Greg – It’s a PS VR2

His charging stand tricked us into not recognizing his VR headset.

QUESTIONS:

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Tom has returned. And now both hosts are fighting cold or flu bugs of some kind. Tom reviews the SOUNDPEATS Space wireless headphones and their crazy long battery life. Emotiva has completely revamped their speaker lineup with the Airmotiv X Series. Elgato 4K X & 4K Pro provide HDMI 2.1 capture and streaming with some limitations.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBdnfG

00:00:00 – Intro

00:08:35 – REVIEW: SOUNDPEATS Space Headphones

Low price, outstanding battery, good sound: https://avgadgets.com/charge-your-headphones-once-a-week-soundpeats-space-headphones-review/

00:22:24 – What We Watched

Rob watched Tenet, Train to Busan, and Evil S.2. Tom finished Echo.

00:46:05 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Jeffery for his PayPal donation, plus our 131 Patreon Patrons, including Daniel, as well as Michael for letting GiK know he heard about them from us, and Aaron for sending yet another movie code to Rob.

Thanks also to Greg and Jeff for giving Tom permission to use their photos on https://avgadgets.com/

And we appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Michael, Aaron, David, Julian, Jeff, and Ryan. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:49:13 – News: Emotiva Airmotiv X Speakers

Folded ribbon tweeters, dual binding posts, unusual Center designs: http://tinyurl.com/5n8n3zvb

01:01:34 – News: Elgato 4K X and 4K Pro

HDMI 2.1 capture cards: http://tinyurl.com/v9rpkpjh

Comments:

01:05:01 – Comment: Infinite Gary – Large TV Disposal

1-800-Got-Junk is an option: http://tinyurl.com/yu56uhxw

01:06:19 – Comment: Jonathan – Sports Streaming Delay

More details about why the delay in streaming sports is too long for him.

QUESTIONS:

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Lee Overstreet makes his first appearance in 2024! SVS is clearing out their Ultra Series speakers at discounted prices. Plex will launch their own Movies & TV online store within a month. WWE pro wrestling is moving Monday Night Raw to Netflix, and outside of the US, all of its other programming too.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBcxpo

00:00:00 – Intro

00:07:29 – What We Watched

Lee watched Silo, and For All Mankind – both on Apple TV+. Rob watched Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, and The Neon Demon.

00:23:53 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 133 Patreon Patrons, as well as Aaron for yet another set of Canadian movie codes for Rob to test.

Thanks also to Jay for giving Tom permission to use his photos on https://avgadgets.com/

And we appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Jay, Aaron, Sasi, Gurinder, Stan, Jeff, and Greg. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:27:02 – News: SVS Ultra Series Closeout Sale

No surprise, Ultra Series speakers are all discounted on clearance: http://tinyurl.com/49eb55t6

00:29:32 – News: Plex Movies & TV Store

Planned launch in February so you can rent & “buy” shows directly from Plex: http://tinyurl.com/3hswmee5

00:36:50 – News: WWE Moves to Netflix

Monday Night Raw will be live on Netflix for the next 5, 10 or 20 years (depending on how things go) in a $5 billion deal: http://tinyurl.com/4bys73jw

QUESTIONS:

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Catch this ep on YouTube for a surprise on Tom’s side! CES: Hisense 8K DLP, 40% smaller UST, rising, Sonic Screen, and Ultra-Black screens, Dynamic Light Steering, and automatic edge-blending C1 projectors. XGIMI Aladdin ceiling light projector. Sharp Display QDEL prototypes. Apple Vision Pro pre-orders sell out, probably because they’re bringing back 3D, baby! But Netflix, YouTube & Spotify aren’t on board.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBbuGn

00:00:00 – Intro

00:09:24 – What We Watched

Rob watched Saltburn, and is rewatching Evil from the beginning. Tom continued Echo, and The Bear.

00:24:50 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Sasi for his PayPal donation, plus our 133 Patreon Patrons, as well as Aaron for sending Rob even more movie codes, John M. for talking us up to Accessories4Less, and Curt for warning Rob ahead of time about Tom’s haircut!

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Aaron, John G, John M, Jack, Greg, Jon, Adam, and Sasi. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news: 

00:28:47 – News: Hisense 8K DLP Projector

120 LX Laser TV: http://tinyurl.com/msshr33r

00:30:23 – News: Hisense 40% Smaller UST Projectors

Much more compact UST models: https://youtu.be/g0PUuG-cxn0

00:33:06 – News: Newest Projector Screen Demos

Roll-up, Sonic Screen & Ultra Black options: http://tinyurl.com/2jsv99rw

00:35:44 – News: Dynamic Light Steering

Impressive DLP upgrade claiming 2,000 nit peaks: http://tinyurl.com/52j87u2b

00:38:35 – News: Automatic Edge Blending

Two C1 Lifestyle projectors work together to make a 21:9 image: https://youtu.be/VrXo0CoTz44

00:39:32 – News: XGIMI Aladdin

Looks like a regular ceiling light, but it’s a stealth projector: http://tinyurl.com/39x87c6x

00:41:10 – News: Sharp QDEL Prototypes

Quantum Dot Electroluminescent displays are closer to production: http://tinyurl.com/4d55j85f

00:45:22 – News: Apple Vision Pro Resurrects 3D Movies

Free upgrades from Apple TV, and Disney+ even adds 3D HFR: http://tinyurl.com/5azvyw9x

00:48:58 – News: Netflix, YouTube & Spotify Snub Vision Pro

The biggest streamers don’t intend to hand any more money to Apple: http://tinyurl.com/yc67zdn2

Comments:

00:51:04 – Comment: Jared – Industry Audio Mixer on Infrasonic Bass

After speaking to a professional audio mixer who worked on Edge of Tomorrow, Jared shares what he learned about infrasonic bass and what we’re intended to hear at home.

00:59:26 – Comment: Rohan – Mystery Marantz Mending

Credit to an official service center in India for completely taking apart and putting back together his Receiver.

QUESTIONS:

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